We find that the people had come before the Lord in Isaiah 58:1-14, complaining about doing their part of the covenant, but God's not doing His part of it. This same complaining and delusion still occurs in today's Church. The people were fasting and seeking God, but they chose to do it their way and not His way. Things haven't changed much in today's Church. We're still not getting any, or very little, results from our covenant with God.
Jesus made a statement, that many are still not listening to, in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these other things, taken together will be given you besides.
Jesus had been teaching about our every day needs being met and our lives being fulfilled by what we "seek" on a daily basis. Jesus instructed us not to be anxious or worried about our every day needs, because God knows we need these things to live. Any father, who is truly a father, does not know his children need food, clothing, and shelter to live in this world. Some of God's children believe that these things are not God's will for them on earth, but only for when they get to heaven. It's true that we will have no shortage of anythings when we get to heaven, but this isn't what Jesus was talking about. Jesus was teaching about how our Heavenly Father already knew that man would need these things, when He brought them into existence.
In Genesis 1:27-31, we see how God placed His new born children on this earth and that had no need for anything. This remains God's will for us today, even after Adam's fall. Although man transgressed and fell, God never changed His intentions for us. He set out at once, to bring everything back to order.
The Apostle Paul writes under the unction of the Holy Spirit in Romans 10:2-3 (Amplified) saying, "I bear them witness that they have a (certain) zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to (correct and vital) knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes (which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed) and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness."
Paul was speaking to those under the Law (and not altogether the new covenant people), yet we have really done the same thing today. We have many religious way of operating in the Church, that are simply our own way of being righteous, instead of subscribing to His righteousness. We are righteous with His Own righteousness by our faith in Jesus, according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) which says, "For our sake He made Christ, (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin; so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
Our religious way of dressing, fasting and doing, do no impress God in the least. It's true that we should dress modestly, fast and act right, but not to become "righteous." We should do these things because He has made us righteous. What's the difference? It's a matter of faith in God's way of doing and being right or His righteousness.
Being kind to one another and showing God's Love, are not the same as telling everyone, "You need to come to church and be like me." It's not the same as telling people to, "Stop drinking and swearing and attend church instead." It's true that they should stop these harmful things and go to church, but not for the reasons we've laid down for them. They don't need to stop these things in order to become a Baptist or Catholic or any other denomination, but in order to hear about what God had done by His Own Son and His grace.
Once they've received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they need to be taught that it's not their way of doing and being right (or in right standing with God), but it's His way of doing things. Jesus taught the principles of giving, loving and helping others, but it wasn't a religious thing. Jesus taught a way of life that sprang from God's life that was now available to "love even the unlovely people." Jesus did instruct us to love the brethren, but also to love the outsider into the Kingdom.
We need to return to God's idea of doing and being right, instead of our way (which is without zeal and not correct knowledge. Proverbs 2:1-6 (Amplified) says, "My Son, if you will receive My Words and treasure up My commandments within you, Making your ear attentive to skillful and Godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding (applying all your powers to the quest of it) Yes, if yo cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, If you seek (wisdom) as for silver and search for skillful and God wisdom as for hidden treasures, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of (our Omniscient) God For the Lord gives skillful and Godly Wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding."
You don't need to leave your church or start a new work halfway around the globe. You don't need the entire congregation to walk in this truth with you. Let God instruct others and you be a light that will help guide other into this lifestyle or fast. You can walk this fast on a personal basis with your Heavenly Father, in order to honor Him. This is reality to our Father. This is how we are supposed to be living for Him continuously.
The prosperity message that so many have "put down," is true, but only when we do it God's way. Our Father intends for you to have enough and have enough to spare for others. He never intended to "Sire" children for the world and satan to support. He is still perfectly capable of taking care of His Own (and then some).
We've been taught that a Christian must be poor and pitiful. God didn't bring His family into the earth so that unbelievers could laugh at them and the enemy could mock them. Our own traditions have lavished us with the title of "Poor and Pitiful," through our own way of doing and being right or righteous. Out own righteousness is still as "filthy rags" in God's sight.
Grace doesn't mean that we can do anything we want, at any time. Grace is the empowerment to do things God's way now and then reaping the benefits of His grace by so doing. Grace covers our mistakes while we learn and it empowers us to show His love to the world. When we walk the personal fast before God and do what He instructs in Isaiah 58, we will see His response to our doing it His way and our relationship with the Father will come to life.
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